Lab-Grown Hamburger: The Major Flaw in the Meat Debate

Lab-Grown Hamburger: The Major Flaw in the Meat Debate

It’s official. We have completely lost our minds and our obsession with meat consumption has finally tipped the scales to the truly wacky.

Recently, BBC News reported the worlds first lab-grown burger was produced, cooked and eaten: “Scientists took cells from a cow and, at an institute in the Netherlands, turned them into strips of muscle which they combined to make a patty. Researchers say the technology could be a sustainable way of meeting what they say is a growing demand for meat.”

The argument, you see, is that due to the current rate of animal consumption we will not have enough meat to meet the demand of the world within the next 40 years or so.

Did I mention that the price of this lab burger cost over $215,000? Certainly this cost would go down as production was perfected, but how far is too far when manipulating our food supply? We still are not even sure what the cost of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is to our environment or to our bodies.

Let’s first look at the majpr question and see that there is the flaw in the argument. Clearly an answer to the shortage in meat supply along with the many environmental problems it causes would be to: eat less meat. Not only is there solid evidence that does prove increases in meat production and consumption has shown a rise in many diseases in true epidemiological studies, but we know that we can get all of the nutrients in our bodies need from plant-based sources.

Here are three ways to make sure we won’t need to eat a petri dish form of hamburgers:

Forget the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). They do not care about your health and continue to recommend less-then-healthy amounts of animal products in your diet. We are an animal protein-obsessed culture. Look to high plant-based proteins like quinoa, beans nuts and seeds.

Protien is protein. Do not be fooled by the meat lobbyists. You can get all of your protein from plant-based sources without having to dabble in meat. This being said, we recommend lean poultry options or fish. A future article will look to our health warrior Dr. Walter Willet and his epidemiological study about red meat consumption and diabetes.

Why be a lab rat? I am so sick and tired of hearing the it’s all in moderation. This word is a cop-out. We were neveer meant to look at food for “cheating” or experimenting. We are learning that non-GMO is the way to go as our food system is being compromised by corporations like Monsanto. Eat local. Get to know your small farmer.

The logical answer is to limit animal consumption and increase and promote plant-based foods. Dr. Keith is a vegan while I eat mostly plant-based with some lean, ethically-raised, locally-sourced meat. The main reasons we do this is for environmental reasons.

Our careers have given us plenty of information on how to easily eat this way and through extensive research we have perfected these lifestyles. Meatless Mondays is a good way to start.

Healthy Lifestyle Coach, Chip Allman-Burgard, has studied over 100 dietary theories and coaches his clients through his 6-month ‘Lifestyle Overhaul’ program and the 3-month ‘Fast Track to Health’ at his Chicago-based company, Naturally Fortified.